See It Now: Online Video

Not long ago, the Web was a collection of text and static images. Today, you can find literally hundreds of websites that offer video on every subject imaginable. Just as cable TV revolutionized viewing habits by providing hundreds of specialized channels, video on the Internet is having a similar impact.

No longer is it necessary to tune into your favorite television program at a certain hour; you can now download it to your desktop or iPod. Or skip the filler and just watch highlights of The Daily Show, CNN newscasts and other popular programs.

Of course if you have a VCR, TiVo or DVD recorder, you've had the ability to timeshift programming for years. The real promise of Web video is the birth of personal video publishing--the ability of anyone with a digital video camera or even a mobile phone to create and share videos with a potential online audience of over a billion people.

Sites like YouTube and blinkx allow anyone to upload video clips and post them for all the world to watch. Not only has it unleashed personal expression, but it has enabled citizen journalists to bypass established media channels to show unvarnished views of events like the war in Iraq, the London subway bombings, and politicians' gaffes.

With millions of hours of video awaiting you online, you will have to wade through a lot of junk to find the gems. But that can be part of the fun--discovering comic clips, poignant slices of life, and alternative views of the world.

Because video files are large, for optimal viewing, you should have a broadband Internet connection, unless you have the patience of a saint.

To view streaming video or video files you've downloaded, you may need the Windows Media Player or QuickTime. If you don't have these programs, download the software for free by clicking on these links:

Windows Media Player
QuickTime

To hear the audio, you'll also need either speakers, headphones or earbuds.

Many sites now have video embedded in the web page, so all you have to do is click the Play button. If you can't see the video, you may need the Flash Player plug-in for your web browser. It's a free download from Adobe.

With so much video for viewing, how do you find the right stuff? Try these useful tools:

blinkx.tv, a video search engine claims to have millions of hours of content, enough to satisfy the most ardent fan. You can also upload your own video to the site. Perhaps best of all, you can watch episodes of your favorite shows online.

A number of sites with a lifetime of video viewing include:

YouTube is by far the 800 pound gorilla of Internet video. The site literally hosts millions of clips uploaded by people from around the world. Originally started as a hosting service for video, YouTube has become an online phenomenon. Search by subject or watch the most popular videos of the day. A nice feature is the user ratings. If you're looking for last night's Jon Stewart monologue, you can probably find it here.

MySpace Videos hosts personal video clips and lets members share them with the public.

Google Video offers a vast collection of clips categorized by subject (comedy, music, TV shows, etc.). You can search by subject also.

Revver hosts a trove of video clips with a unique twist. The site attaches ads to the clips; if a viewer clicks on the ad, the filmmaker gets paid a small amount of money--a novel way to support aspiring artists.

In the broadcasting world the Nielsen ratings rank the popularity of TV shows. WorldTV is trying to do the same thing for Internet video. Each week the site ranks the most popular videos. See what everyone else is watching.

A word of caution: Watching online clips can be as addictive as watching TV and just as productive!

Last update: Jan 7, 2010